AGARTALA, Jan 14 (TIWN): Tripura, specially rural parts have celebrated Makar Sankranti with full enthusiasm, a holy festival for harvesters as well as households. At the same time, the indigenous people of Tripura are celebrating Hangrai, which is also a festival of harvesting.

The Tiprasa is the promoter of Hangrai or Sankranti festivals. They have first introduced this festival of immersing of ancestors remains in the holy river. Since than it was adopted by other groups in India and popularized over the years.However the main celebration to be started from tonight. 

At the same time Bengalis celebrate it as Makar Shankranti, specially at rural areas. Women across the state are now busy in drawing alponas with rice-powders.Drawing alponas to mark the day is considered as one of the major art, and when one takes his way to the rural Tripura the fragrance of Makar sankranti could be touched all across.This day is considered as one of the auspicious time of the year, and as it is to celebrate the harvest festival, the Bengalis make all sweets with rice and palm jiggery, available in winter months.

Poush sankranti, the last day of the Bengali month Poush, is also known as Makar Sankranti (Tiprasa calls it Hangrai) and marks the day for harvest festival in Bengal. Besides, the Bengali ladies comprising of mother and grandmother do marks the day getting busy drawing alponas at their homes.

Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December.

It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.